And 16 for Sinners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My Oscar nominations Watchlist/Won't-Watch-List, Some Predictions, and Other Thoughts
Another year, another Oscar’s newsletter. However, this one is going to look a little different. I am somewhat out of the loop this Award Season because it is also the season of submitting my dissertation, but I’m still me, which means I’m not unaware of what’s going on — I just do not have the energy to write A Whole Thing. So this is what you get instead. You can find the whole list of nominees truly anywhere online. Go forth and be curious!
Have Watched
Sinners
Director & Writer: Ryan Coogler | Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw.
A RECORD BREAKING NUMBER OF NOMINATIONS: Supporting Actress - WUNMI MOSAKU!!!, Supporting Actor- Delroy Lindo, Lead Actor - Michael B. Jordan, Original Score, Original Screenplay, Makeup & Hairstyling, Costume Design (THE Ruth E. Carter), Casting, Original Song - I Lied To You, Film Editing, Sound, Production Design, Visual Effects, Cinematography, Directing, Best Picture!!!!
One of the best movies of the decade. The CENTURY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NEED to see as many wins as possible for this film. It is a feat of originality and talent.
Frankenstein
Director & Writer: Guillermo Del Toro (based on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, obviously) | Cinematography: Dan Laustsen
Nominated for: Original Score, Sound, Cinematography, Supporting Actor - Jacob Elordi, Adapted Screenplay, Production Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Best Picture
I wish I hadn’t watched this. It was on Netflix, it’s Guillermo Del Toro, I mean…we didn’t know how it would go. I will never get that time of my life back.
Weapons
Director & Writer: Zach Cregger | Cinematography: Larkin Seiple
Nominated for: Supporting Actress - Amy Madigan
I also wish I had not watched this. I hated this movie. We didn’t know it was going to be bad when we rented it on my horror-loving-bff’s birthday.
Will Watch (Or Hope To Watch)
Listen, I’m not flush with cash and not everything is easily available to watch. I have hopes and aspirations!!
Hamnet
Director: Chloé Zhao | Writers: Chloé Zhao & Maggie O’Farrell (based on O’Farrell’s book of the same name) | Cinematography: Łukasz Żal
Nominated for: Original Score, Lead Actress - Jessie Buckley, Directing, Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture, Casting, Costume Design, Production Design
I can see Jessie Buckley winning for this! Maybe production design, too? My suspicion is that Adapted Screenplay will go to One Battle or Frankenstein. I want to watch this no matter what the mixed reviews say!!
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Director & Writer: Kaouther Ben Hania | Cinematography: Juan Sarmiento G.
Nominated for: Best International Feature (Tunisia)
I am curious about this film. I’ve only heard good thing about how impactful it is. It’s possible it could take Best International Feature, but I suspect it will not because…Hollywood.
Sentimental Value / Affeksjonsverdi
Director: Joachim Trier | Writers: Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt | Cinematography: Kasper Tuxen
Nominated for: Lead Actress - Renate Reinsve, Supporting Actress - Elle Fanning and Igna Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Supporting Actor - Stellan Skarsgård, International Feature (Norway), Original Screenplay, Film Editing
Might take International Feature! Unfortunately, none of the actors can win because I need everything to go to Sinners.
It Was Just an Accident / یک تصادف ساده
Director & Writer: Jafar Panahi | Cinematography: Amin Jafari
Nominated for: Best International Feature (France), Original Screenplay
NEED to see this immediately. I think Sentimental Value will win best international feature because the Academy loves whiteness. But I have also only heard incredible things about this movie, so maybe it has a chance!
The Secret Agent / O Agente Secreto
Director & Writer: Kleber Mendonça Filho | Cinematography: Evgenia Alexandrova
Nominated for: Lead Actor - Wagner Moura, Best International Feature (Brazil), Casting, Best Picture
Just based off what I have seen online…I can maaaaaybe see this taking International Feature but I still think it’s gonna go to Sentimental Value. Need that Lead Actor to go to Michael B. Jordan, but as long as it isn’t Timmy I am good.
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Director & Writer: Mary Bronstein | Cinematography: Christopher Messina
Nominated for: Lead Actress - Rose Bryne
Actually I could see Rose Bryne winning too!
Won’t Watch (Absolutely NO Chance)
Honestly, if I missed an nomination or two…it’s because I am tired and also I cannot stress enough that I am deeply disinterested in these films.
Marty Supreme
Director: Josh Safdie | Writers: Josh Safdie & Ronald Bronstein | Cinematography: Darius Khondji
Nominated for: Original Screenplay, Casting, Cinematography, Lead Actor - Timothee Chalamet, Production Design, Best Picture, Directing, Film Editing, Costume Design
I will not watch. I don’t get either Safdie Brother and why would I, a Canadian, watch a movie with Kevin O’Leary in it?? YUCK!!!!!!!!!
One Battle After Another
Director & Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson (based on Vineland by Thomas Pynchon) | Cinematography: Michael Bauman
Nominated for: Supporting Actress - Teyana Taylor1, Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actor - Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro, Lead Actor - Leo Di Caprio, Original Score, Film Editing, Sound, Casting, Best Picture, Directing, Cinematography, Production Design
Even if I didn’t dislike Paul Thomas Anderson, and even if Brooke Obie’s review of this movie didn’t tell me everything I needed to know, why would I go see a film with Sean Penn in it????????????
Bugonia
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos | Writer: Will Tracy (based on Save the Green Planet! by Jang Joon-hwan) | Cinematography: Robbie Ryan
Nominated for: Original Score, Lead Actress - Emma Stone, Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay
So sorry but what do y’all see in Yorgos Lanthimos?? The only good thing he has done is The Favourite. The Lobster I would maaaaaybe give another chance.
Other thoughts:
I am also curious about Cutting Through Rocks (2025, dir. Sara Khaki & Mohammadreza Eyni)
I am mixed on whether I’d watch The Alabama Solution (dir. Andrew Jarecki) because I don’t know what more we can learn/you never know if it will be exploitative or not. I’ve heard a lot of different things about The Perfect Neighbour (2025, dirs. Geeta Gandbhir) and the re-traumatization Ajike Owen’s children. So. I don’t know about all that.
EAT IT, GOLDEN GLOBES!!! Wunmi Mosaku snub has been vindicated!!!!
Miles Caton should’ve been nominated for Sinners, too.
Nothing for Sorry Baby is unacceptable to me.
First new award in 25 years - Best Casting!
The F1 nominations were surely paid for or something???? How is it nominated for Best Picture?? Be serious.
So happy for Elle Fanning!
LOOOOOOOL nothing for Wicked: For Good.
Please please please please let Sinners sweep. I can’t cope with more Marty Supreme and One Battle After Another wins.
Pretending this is for A Thousand and One.
As always I agree with all of your takes especially yorgos and f1 despite not having seen the latter hahaha but I must say I adored sentimental value, it is incredible!! Let me know when/if you watch it!